Hobby-horse



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- J. & R. BEAN.

HOBBY HORSE.

Patented Sept. 11, 1883.

NITED STATES PATENT Fr es.

HOB-BY- HORSE. I

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 284,940, dated September 11, 1883.

Application filed June 9, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN BEAN and Ros eon BEAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hobby-Horses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a pipe (tubular)frame-work, adapted to sustain and support ourrocker or hobby horse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of our improved device. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section through the device in line a: :0. Fig. 4 is a modification of our invention, show= ing the seat swung by springs, F1 5 is a cross section showing the connection of the two cheek-pieces (which may be in the form of horses) and the rear suspension bars or springs.

This invention has for its object to provide, first, a light and substantial frame for supporting a childs hobby-horse, sleigh, or any other figure to enable the child to rock or swing freely to and fro, and to so construct the frame and seat with its appurtenances that the same can be readily taken apart for packing in a small compass, and with equal readiness put together again, as will be fully understood from the following description,when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

The supporting-frame of our device is pref erably made of gas-pipe, because it is light and can be made up of small pieces. The legs A A have T-' shaped feet B B, and the upper ends of these legs, which are connected to a U-shaped frame, having secured on the ends of the limbs of this frame T-pieees O O. \Ve prefer to use T- couplings for connecting the joints of the sections, made so that they act as setscrews to firmly hold the parts together, at the same time admitting of their detachment when it is desired to pack them for transportation.

The frame which we have above described' is light and substantial, and easily put together and taken apart. It presents two upwardlyextended limbs, on which are the rigid crosspieces a a. Fromthe ends of these cross pieces depend hangers D I) D D, to the lower ends (No model.)

of which are suitably secured the cheek or side pieces, E E, of a seat, F, a foot-piece, G, and a cross-piece, H. The hangers can be made of elastic material, strips of leather an swering well, which may be rigidly secured at each end. The cheek-pieces may be in the formlof horses, the front and hind feet of which I are connected in ,a suitable manner to the described, of solid rods, coupled together in.

sections, or of wood.

Instead of having the bow below the swinging seat, it maybe'arched over the seat-frame, (or horse.)

It is obvious that by making the cheek-pieces separate and connecting them as we have above described they can be depressed lower than if there was a solid piece, for the reason that the lower portions of ,these cheek-pieces are astride of the inverted bow. The checkpieces, whether they be the contour of horses or of any other shape, are secured to the seat, the foot piece, and to the hand or breast piece by means of screws or the equivalents thereof, which can be easily removed, thus af fording a knockdown frame.

It will be seen that the invention which we have above described consists, essentially, of a seat or cradle, which may be ornamented in any fancy manner, and thatit will swing either longitut'linally, or, if springs be applied to the hangers, it will swing both longitudinally and laterally, suspended from the longitudinal bow of the light supporting-frame.

It is obvious that the couplings which connect the joints orseetions of the frame together I may be locked in amannersimilarto the same couplings which we use on our patents for wheelbarrows, granted in the year 1882, or in any other suitable manner.

The springs, which we now letter S, are rigidly fastened at each end, and as achildin the seat swings these springs have a tendency at, all times to bring the seat nearer to the center of motion.

One of the leading features of our invention is the tubular frame-work, put together with T-couplings, adapted to slip over the pipe-sections, and T-pieces screwed in to form setscrews. At the end of the pipes, where they screw into the couplings or crosses, we may use a loose disk, which extends into the ends of the pipes and helps to hold the parts firmly.

Another leading feature is thgs rings fastenedfinachieifl so that as the child swings they have a tendency to bring the seat nearer the center.

Another feature of our invention is making the horses in separate pieces, so that the same can be detached and packed in a small space for transportation.

If desired, instead of having 'crOsspiecesat the ends of the frame-work, we can secure these supporting pieces at other places on this frame. The sliding couplings, or crosses, if made in the form of crosses, are made with openings on two sides to allow said pieces to be screwed in and form set-screws on each or on two sides. The sliding couplings have T-openings, and in these openings we put a loose button pointedon one side. After sliding these couplings to their proper places, we put in the loose buttons and screw the cross arms or legs into the sliding couplings. By screwing up the legs or cross-arms it presses the pointed button into the pipe and secures them rigidly to the desired position, forming set-screws. These loose buttons may be used or not; but we find that the framework holds better when they are used. The main piece of the frame-work we find is preferably made of one piece, either of wood or iron. The cross-arms are round where the springs or straps are fastened, and the latter are fastened in such manner that as the seat moves back and forward these springs roll and unroll on this cross-piece. At the lower ends of the straps we also make the pieces to which the straps are attached round, to allow them to roll and unroll. By this arrangement the springs are not liable to break by use, and the seat is allowed to swing easily. The springs are not necessarily attached at the ends of the feet or legs; but cross-pieces can be attached at any convenient place on the seat-supporting pieces. The pendants are all elastic, but secured rigidly at each end, so as to havcadirect forward and backward motion.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A frame for a swinging seat,consisting of standards having T- shaped feet and a U shaped section having cross-heads, substantially as described.

0 A sectional frame for a swinging seat,

AJ- cofnposed of a bow having cross-heads and 4. The combination of a frame which is composed of a bow-brace, transverse pendants,

and supportinglegs, of pendants swung from the said transverse arms, cheek-pieces attached to said arms, and a seat secured to said cheek-pieces, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the bowed suspension-frame provided with supportinglegs, of the transverse bars, the suspensioirarms, the cheek-pieces, supported at their lower extremities by said arms, a seat, a foot-piece, and a connecting-brace rigidly but'removably applied to said arms, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

6. The combination of a sustaining bow or arch, legs and feet therefor, composed of gaspipe coupled at the joints by Ts, and a swinging seat depending from the ends of said bow, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

7. In combination with a frame which is composed of a rod bent in the form of a bow and having cross-pieces, spring-suspenders, and a seat applied to these suspenders, sub stantially as described.

8. As a new and improved article of manufacture, a supporting-frame consisting of a bowed rod and transverse sustaining portions, suspension rods rigidly attached at each end, separated cheek-pieces, an intermediate seat secured thereto, and a connectingbrace, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner described.

9. In a hobby-horse and articles of like kind, the frame-work having movable couplings and held in position by cross-arms, forming set-screws, for the purpose specified.

10. In a hobby-horse, the frame-work having movable couplings thereon, incombination with cross pieces or legs secured in said couplings, and an interposed button between the end of said pieces and the frame, for the purpose specified.

11. The combination ofcheek-pieces and seat, constructed to be easily separated and put together, also constructed to allow the framework to pass through the body above the legs,

for the purpose specified.

12. In ahobby-horse or other article of like kind, a stationary frame resting below and supports secured near the upper end of the frame and near the lower end of the horse,

when said supports are rigidly secured at both In testimony whereof we affix our signatures ends, substantially as and for the purposes 1n presence of two witnesses.

Specified JOHN BEAN.

13. As anew article of manufacture, a frames work resting below two swinging separate ROSOOE BEAN cheek-pieces, arranged with a seat or saddle Witnesses: above and stirrups at the sides, to enable the JAS. J oHNsoN, Jr., rider to ride astride, substantially as specified. CONRAD SPENGENBENGER. 

